A recent visitor to San Antonio comments on the pleasures of the River Walk and the Institute of Texan Cultures and the friendliness of the people in the Alamo City.

A recent visitor to San Antonio comments on the pleasures of the River Walk and the Institute of Texan Cultures and the friendliness of the people in the Alamo City.

Photo: ROBIN JERSTAD, FOR THE EXPRESS-NEWS

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Nick Delpopolo of the U.S. was disqualified from the London Olympics after failing a drug test.

Nick Delpopolo of the U.S. was disqualified from the London Olympics after failing a drug test.

Photo: Smiley N. Pool, Houston Chronicle

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Your Turn - Aug. 15. 2012

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A way out

Re: “Debt can be downer for love,” S.A. Life, August 6:

The article addressed an interesting aspect of the student loan problem, but only scratched the surface of its many consequences. Severe debt hinders many young borrowers from becoming independent adults.

I know — I’m one of them. I graduated in 2010 with a snazzy bachelor’s degree and not-so-snazzy student loan debt. It took me nine months to find work. I used up my loan grace periods and applied for deferment. And, as with the people in the article, serious relationships were not happening for me. I felt shame and overwhelming fear.

It’s terrifying when you can’t make your monthly payment no matter how you crunch the numbers. I find it serendipitous that I was finally hired by nonprofit financial counselors who help student loan borrowers understand repayment options. Working at Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater San Antonio, I’ve taken advantage of their services to build a budget and better understand my credit score.

I’m grateful for my job and even more grateful that I can afford my student loan payments. My next steps will be to find an apartment, start saving for retirement, and — who knows — maybe find love. To those struggling student loan borrowers: There’s a way out.

I believe this is the longest active political campaign period in our history. I’m sure that the majority of people are sick and tired of the nasty ads on TV, in the mail and on the radio. Also, the spending by both parties is in the billion-dollar range. Think how much good could be done with that money.

We still have three more months to endure in this two-year period. In England, they have a law that limits the campaign period to three months. That might be a little extreme for us, but a six-month period would be a great improvement. Any chance we can get both parties to agree to that?

— Richard Trench

Sex scandal

Regarding the Lackland sex scandal, many of the trainees were enjoying sex before joining the Air Force. They get to Lackland, and do not want to go weeks or even months without sex. They approach the training instructor, and he accommodates them. That is wrong and illegal, because it is against Air Force regulations. But consensual sex between two adults — if it was consensual — should not result in 20 years in the stockade or even six.

Take away one stripe, one month of pay and assign him to the Shemya, Alaska, Air Force Base for a year. That will teach him to go home and take care of his good-looking wife and leave the trainees alone. Training instructors who are not married can go to the NCO club and find a girl friend.

Another thought on the current disagreement over what President Obama was referring to in his, “You didn’t build that” statement. Whether he was referring to having built the business or the roads and bridges, he’s wrong. We in the private sector built and paid for both.

Remember this name — Nick Delpopolo. He was the first of over 10,500 athletes in the London Games to fail an anti-doping test. Yes, remember his name, for, in my opinion, he is the pinnacle of stupidity.

Just imagine the hours, days and years he spent training for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics. He indicated that he “unintentionally” ate something that had been laced with marijuana.

Yeah, right!

As my dear ole daddy always told me, “Son, you can’t teach stupid!”

— Sil Crim

Pre-K plan

While the Express-News extols the concern, wisdom and foresight of our mayor for parenting the Brain Power Initiative, I find it difficult to understand why only a select few 4-year-olds will benefit.

To be fair, should we know how many Pre-K 4-year-olds live in San Antonio who will not be served? A program of this magnitude, which has eligibility restrictions, will exclude many.

Since we all pay the tax, we should know how many will not be served. In the media blitz, I have seen no mention of transportation for these would-be students, since the model centers will surely not be in my neighborhood.

I recently attended a national conference in a hotel along the River Walk in San Antonio.

Not only was the conference educational, but we were also able to enjoy the River Walk boat tour, a visit to the Alamo and a fantastic evening at the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures.

I was amazed at the richness of Texas history, delighted by the preservation efforts in your lovely city, and charmed by the welcoming, helpful and pleasant people who made our conference and visit memorable.

Having resided in San Antonio for 45 years, I can envision the operation of the Pre-K 4 SA program — overpaid, bloated administrative staff selected by political cronyism, along with backdoor and under-the-table shenanigans in development of the program.

Throw in lack of oversight, misuse of funds and credit cards, and glowing reports of progress. Finally, after eight years of operation, regardless of results, the program will be heralded a resounding success.